At a time when the slow pace of economic recovery and continuing reductions in state and federal assistance underscore our need for strong leadership in financial management, this volume offers a deeper understanding of financial theory and practice for its own sake.

Finance is a cornerstone of local government operations, cutting across multiple departments within a unit and defining the duties of many local government officials and employees. This book provides an overview of budgeting and financial management laws applicable to local governments and public authorities in North Carolina.

This series is designed to cover all aspects of sound financial management for local governments in developed and developing countries and economies in transition. Concepts of good governance, transparency and accountability are woven into the text of every chapter, and the needs and potential obstacles to greater decentralization and democracy are highlighted. Each volume is self-contained with its own Trainer's Guide, exercises and web resources. Chapters are divided into basic and advanced concepts and the detailed relationship of each topic to the others covered in the series is explained.

This handbook evaluates the persistent problems in the fiscal systems of state and local governments and what can be done to solve them. Each chapter provides a description of the discipline area, examines major developments in policy practices and research, and opines on future prospects.

Written for all practitioners of local government finance, ICMA¿s Management Policies in Local Government Finance has long been considered the most comprehensive, most on-target text for local government managers, finance directors, and economic development planners and directors.Now in its fifth edition, this classic on financial management will help you: Develop new revenue sources Design a budget process that includes performance reporting Conduct strategic economic development Understand debt management and bond sales Use modern information systems to improve financial decisions Meet the day-to-day challenges of financial management, from procurement to labor negotiations. Completely new chapters in this revised edition address school finance, cost-benefit analysis, enterprise resource management systems, procurement, cash and investment management, and risk and insurance management. All chapters have been thoroughly updated to reflect changes in federal and state practice, new professional guidelines, and underlying changes in global and national economies.